US, IEA blame each other of Doha Agreement violation

ATLANTA (Pajhwok): On the fourth anniversary of Doha Agreement, the United States and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) have accused each other of violating some parts of the agreement while IEA termed the deal their biggest success and achievement.

Doha peace pact was signed in Doha, Qatar between Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar, a senior leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), and Zalmay Khalilzad, the than US Chief Negotiator on February 29, 2020.

Withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, release of all prisoners, start of intra-Afghan talks and lifting of sanction by US were the most salient features of the agreement, it was also promised in the agreement that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against US and its allies.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller on Thursday told reporters in Washington: “In our view, the agreement empowered the Taliban, weakened our partners in the Afghan Government, and committed the United States to withdrawing our troops with no clear plan for what should come next, the Taliban have not fulfilled their commitments in the Doha Agreement.”

He added the IEA had taken some steps regarding certain terrorist groups in Afghanistan, it is well known that the Taliban also sheltered al-Qaida leader Zawahiri in downtown Kabul, which flies directly in the face of the agreement.

They had not fulfilled their Doha commitment to engage in a meaningful dialogue with their fellow Afghans leading to a negotiated settlement and an inclusive political system.

But the IEA Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said factors behind the signing of Doha Agreement was the 20 years of freedom fighting, struggles and sacrifices of the people of Afghanistan. On the bases of this agreement US was forced to pull its forces out of Afghanistan, he added.

He said: “The agreement was signed and as a result, the occupation ended, freedom and independence returned to Afghanistan and the ground was created for the establishment of an Islamic government, this was a very big dream, a very big goal of the people of Afghanistan, with the signing of this agreement, it was done and reached, which can be called a great development that will have its place in history, this marks a golden chapter of Afghanistan’s history.”

He said the Doha agreement end a long war, prevent continuous bloodshed and destruction, Afghanistan entered a new season and Afghans would started rebuilding their country.

Mujahid said as a result of this Agreement Afghanistan was now peaceful, it is economically prosperous and efforts were underway for development.

He said some parts of the agreement have not been implemented by the US and problems still existed but generally this agreement helped achieved big goals.